riders of the purple sage- 第40部分

〃Have　you　any　idea　what　I　did　in　your　absence？〃　she　asked。

〃I　imagine　you　lounged　about；　waiting　and　watching　for　me；〃　he　replied；　smiling。　〃I've　my　share　of　conceit；　you　know。〃

〃You're　wrong。　I　worked。　Look　at　my　hands。〃　She　dropped　on　her　knees　close　to　where　he　sat；　and；　carefully　depositing　the　black　bundle；　she　held　out　her　hands。　The　palms　and　inside　of　her　fingers　were　white；　puckered；　and　worn。

〃Why；　Bess；　you've　been　fooling　in　the　water；〃　he　said。

〃Fooling？　Look　here！〃　With　deft　fingers　she　spread　open　the　black　scarf；　and　the　bright　sun　shone　upon　a　dull；　glittering　heap　of　gold。

〃Gold！〃　he　ejaculated。

〃Yes；　gold！　See；　pounds　of　gold！　I　found　itwashed　it　out　of　the　streampicked　it　out　grain　by　grain；　nugget　by　nugget！〃

〃Gold！〃　he　cried。

〃Yes。　Nownow　laugh　at　my　secret！〃

For　a　long　minute　Venters　gazed。　Then　he　stretched　forth　a　hand　to　feel　if　the　gold　was　real。

〃Gold！〃　he　almost　shouted。　〃Bess；　there　are　hundredsthousands　of　dollars'　worth　here！〃

He　leaned　over　to　her；　and　put　his　hand；　strong　and　clenching　now；　on　hers。

〃Is　there　more　where　this　came　from？〃　he　whispered。

〃Plenty　of　it；　all　the　way　up　the　stream　to　the　cliff。　You　know　I've　often　washed　for　gold。　Then　I've　heard　the　men　talk。　I　think　there's　no　great　quantity　of　gold　here；　but　enough　forfor　a　fortune　for　you。〃

〃Thatwasyoursecret！　〃

〃Yes。　I　hate　gold。　For　it　makes　men　mad。　I've　seen　them　drunk　with　joy　and　dance　and　fling　themselves　around。　I've　seen　them　curse　and　rave。　I've　seen　them　fight　like　dogs　and　roll　in　the　dust。　I've　seen　them　kill　each　other　for　gold。〃

〃Is　that　why　you　hated　to　tell　me？〃

〃Notnot　altogether。〃　Bess　lowered　her　head。　〃It　was　because　I　knew　you'd　never　stay　here　long　after　you　found　gold。〃

〃You　were　afraid　I'd　leave　you？〃

〃Yes。

〃Listen！。。。You　great；　simple　child！　Listen。。。You　sweet；　wonderful；　wild；　blue…eyed　girl！　I　was　tortured　by　my　secret。　It　was　that　I　knew　wewe　must　leave　the　valley。　We　can't　stay　here　much　longer。　I　couldn't　think　how　we'd　get　awayout　of　the　countryor　how　we'd　live；　if　we　ever　got　out。　I'm　a　beggar。　That's　why　I　kept　my　secret。　I'm　poor。　It　takes　money　to　make　way　beyond　Sterling。　We　couldn't　ride　horses　or　burros　or　walk　forever。　So　while　I　knew　we　must　go；　I　was　distracted　over　how　to　go　and　what　to　do。　Now！　We've　gold！　Once　beyond　Sterling；　well　be　safe　from　rustlers。　We've　no　others　to　fear。

〃Oh！　Listen！　Bess！〃　Venters　now　heard　his　voice　ringing　high　and　sweet；　and　he　felt　Bess's　cold　hands　in　his　crushing　grasp　as　she　leaned　toward　him　pale；　breathless。　〃This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you！　You　made　me　live　again！　I'll　take　you　awayfar　away　from　this　wild　country。　You'll　begin　a　new　life。　You'll　be　happy。　You　shall　see　cities；　ships；　people。　You　shall　have　anything　your　heart　craves。　All　the　shame　and　sorrow　of　your　life　shall　be　forgottenas　if　they　had　never　been。　This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you　here　aloneyou　sad…eyed　girl。　I　love　you！　Didn't　you　know　it？　How　could　you　fail　to　know　it？　I　love　you！　I'm　free！　I'm　a　man　a　man　you've　madeno　more　a　beggar！。。。Kiss　me！　This　is　how　much　I'd　leave　you　here　aloneyou　beautiful；　strange；　unhappy　girl。　But　I'll　make　you　happy。　Whatwhat　do　I　care　foryour　past！　I　love　you！　I'll　take　you　home　to　Illinoisto　my　mother。　Then　I'll　take　you　to　far　places。　I'll　make　up　all　you've　lost。　Oh；　I　know　you　love　meknew　it　before　you　told　me。　And　it　changed　my　life。　And　you'll　go　with　me；　not　as　my　companion　as　you　are　here；　nor　my　sister；　but；　Bess；　darling！。。。As　my　wife！〃



CHAPTER　XVII。　WRANGLE'S　RACE　RUN

The　plan　eventually　decided　upon　by　the　lovers　was　for　Venters　to　go　to　the　village；　secure　a　horse　and　some　kind　of　a　disguise　for　Bess；　or　at　least　less　striking　apparel　than　her　present　garb；　and　to　return　post…haste　to　the　valley。　Meanwhile；　she　would　add　to　their　store　of　gold。　Then　they　would　strike　the　long　and　perilous　trail　to　ride　out　of　Utah。　In　the　event　of　his　inability　to　fetch　back　a　horse　for　her；　they　intended　to　make　the　giant　sorrel　carry　double。　The　gold；　a　little　food；　saddle　blankets；　and　Venters's　guns　were　to　compose　the　light　outfit　with　which　they　would　make　the　start。

〃I　love　this　beautiful　place；〃　said　Bess。　〃It's　hard　to　think　of　leaving　it。〃

〃Hard！　Well；　I　should　think　so；〃　replied　Venters。　〃Maybein　years〃　But　he　did　not　complete　in　words　his　thought　that　might　be　possible　to　return　after　many　years　of　absence　and　change。

Once　again　Bess　bade　Venters　farewell　under　the　shadow　of　Balancing　Rock；　and　this　time　it　was　with　whispered　hope　and　tenderness　and　passionate　trust。　Long　after　he　had　left　her；　all　down　through　the　outlet　to　the　Pass；　the　clinging　clasp　of　her　arms；　the　sweetness　of　her　lips；　and　the　sense　of　a　new　and　exquisite　birth　of　character　in　her　remained　hauntingly　and　thrillingly　in　his　mind。　The　girl　who　had　sadly　called　herself　nameless　and　nothing　had　been　marvelously　transformed　in　the　moment　of　his　avowal　of　love。　It　was　something　to　think　over；　something　to　warm　his　heart；　but　for　the　present　it　had　absolutely　to　be　forgotten　so　that　all　his　mind　could　be　addressed　to　the　trip　so　fraught　with　danger。

He　carried　only　his　rifle；　revolver；　and　a　small　quantity　of　bread　and　meat；　and　thus　lightly　burdened；　he　made　swift　progress　down　the　slope　and　out　into　the　valley。　Darkness　was　coming　on；　and　he　welcomed　it。　Stars　were　blinking　when　he　reached　his　old　hiding…place　in　the　split　of　canyon　wall；　and　by　their　aid　he　slipped　through　the　dense　thickets　to　the　grassy　enclosure。　Wrangle　stood　in　the　center　of　it　with　his　head　up；　and　he　appeared　black　and　of　gigantic　proportions　in　the　dim　light。　Venters　whistled　softly；　began　a　slow　approach；　and　then　called。　The　horse　snorted　and；　plunging　away　with　dull；　heavy　sound　of　hoofs；　he　disappeared　in　the　gloom。　〃Wilder　than　ever！〃　muttered　Venters。　He　followed　the　sorrel　into　the　narrowing　split　between　the　walls；　and　presently　had　to　desist　because　he　could　not　see　a　foot　in　advance。　As　he　went　back　toward　the　open　Wrangle　jumped　out　of　an　ebony　shadow　of　cliff　and　like　a　thunderbolt　shot　huge　and　black　past　him　down　into　the　starlit　glade。　Deciding　that　all　attempts　to　catch　Wrangle　at　night　would　be　useless；　Venters　repaired　to　the　shelving　rock　where　he　had　hidden　saddle　and　blanket；　and　there　went　to　sleep。

The　first　peep　of　day　found　him　stirring；　and　as　soon　as　it　was　light　enough　to　distinguish　objects；　he　took　his　lasso　off　his　saddle　and　went　out　to　rope　the　sorrel。　He　espied　Wrangle　at　the　lower　end　of　the　cove　and　approached　him　in　a　perfectly　natural　manner。　When　he　got　near　enough；　Wrangle　evidently　recognized　him；　but　was　too　wild　to　stand。　He　ran　up　the　glade　and　on　into　the　narrow　lane　between　the　walls。　This　favored　Venters's　speedy　capture　of　the　horse；　so；　coiling　his　noose　ready　to　throw；　he　hurried　on。　Wrangle　let　Venters　get　to　within　a　hundred　feet　and　then　he　broke。　But　as　he　plunged　by；　rapidly　getting　into　his　stride；　Venters　made　a　perfect　throw　with　the　rope。　He　had　time　to　brace　himself　for　the　shock；　nevertheless；　Wrangle　threw　him　and　dragged　him　several　yards　before　halting。

〃You　wild　devil；〃　said　Venters；　as　he　slowly　pulled　Wrangle　up。　〃Don't　you　know　me？　Come　nowold　fellowsoso〃

Wrangle　yielded　to　the　lasso　and　then　to　Venters's　strong　hand。　He　was　as　straggly　and　wild…looking　as　a　horse　left　to　roam　free　in　the　sage。　He　dropped　his　long　ears　and　stood　readily　to　be　saddled　and　bridled。　But　he　was　exceedingly　sensitive；　and　quivered　at　every　touch　and　sound。　Venters　led　him　to　the　thicket；　and；　bending　the　close　saplings　to　let　him　squeeze　through；　at　length　reached　the　open。　Sharp　survey　in　each　direction　assured　him　of　the　usual　lonely　nature　of　the　canyon；　then　he　was　in　the　saddle；　riding　south。

Wrangle's　long；　swinging　canter　was　a　wonderful　ground…gainer。　His　stride　was　almost　twice　that　of　an　ordinary　horse；　and　his　endurance　was　equally　remarkable。　Venters　pulled　him　in　occasionally；　and　walked　him　up　the　stretches　of　rising　ground　and　along　the　soft　washes。　Wrangle　had　never　yet　shown　any　indication　of　distress　while　Venters　rode　him。　Nevertheless；　there　was　now　reason　to　save　the　horse；　therefore　Venters　did　not　resort　to　the　hurry　that　had　characterized　his　former　trip。　He　camped　at　the　last　water　in　the　Pass。　What　distance　that　was　to　Cottonwoods　he　did　not　know；　he　calculated；　however；　that　it　was　in　the　neighborhood　of　fifty　miles。

Early　in　the　morning　he　proceeded　on　his　way；　and　about　the　middle　of　the　forenoon　reached　the　constricted　gap　that　marked　the　southerly　end　of　the　Pass；　and　through　which　led　the　trail　up　to　the　sage…level。　He　spied　out　Lassiter's　tracks　in　the　dust；　but　no　others；　and　dismounting；　he　straightened　out　Wrangle's　bridle　and　began　to　lead　him　up　the　trail。　The　short　climb；　more　severe　on　beast　than　on　man；　necessitated　a　rest　on　the　level　above；　and　during　this　he　scanned　the　wide　purple　reaches　of　slope。

Wrangle　whistled　his　pleasure　at　the　smell　of　the　sage。　Remounting；　Venters　headed　up　the　white　trail　with　the　fragrant　wind　in　his　face。　He　had　proceeded　for　perhaps　a　couple　of　miles　when　Wrangle　stopped　with　a　suddenness　that　threw　Venters　heavily　against　the　pommel。

〃What's　wrong；　old　boy？〃　called　Venters；　looking　down　for　a　loose　shoe　or　a　snake　or　a　foot　lamed　by　a　picked…up　stone。　Unrewarded；　he　raised　himself　from　his　scrutiny。　Wrangle　stood　stiff　head　high；　with　his　long　ears　erect。　Thus　guided；　Venters　swiftly　gazed　ahead　to　make　out　a　dust…clouded；　dark　group　of　horsemen　riding　down　the　slope。　If　they　had　seen　him；　it　apparently　made　no　difference　in　their　speed　or　direction。

〃Wonder　who　they　are！〃　exclaimed　Venters。　He　was　not　disposed　to　run。　His　cool　mood　tightened　under　grip　of　excitement　as　he　reflected　that；　whoever　the　approaching　riders　were；　they　could　not　be　friends。　He　slipped　out　of　the　saddle　and　led　Wrangle　behind　the　tallest　sage…brush。　It　might　serve　to　conceal　them　until　the　riders　were　close　enough　for　him　to　see　who　they　were；　after　that　he　would　be　indifferent　to　how　soon　they　discovered　him。

After　looking　to　his　rifle　and　ascertaining　that　it　was　in　working　order；　he　watched；　and　as　he　watched；　slowly　the　force　of　a　bitter　fierceness；　long　dormant；　gathered　ready　to　flame　into　life。　If　thos